RFID calls for yet another reality check

Real-world RFID experience counts more than knowledge certification, according to the RFID Workforce Report 2007, based on a survey by the industry association RFID Tribe.

By Manufacturing Business Technology Staff

09/27/2007

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Real-world RFID experience counts more than knowledge certification, according to the RFID Workforce Report 2007, based on a survey by the industry association RFID Tribe .

RFID implementation teams tend to be fluid. People with experience tend to change jobs frequently, and more technical and engineering professionals are engaged in implementation currently—all indicative of the early state of maturity of the technology.

“In the early stages of any technology, you see a lot of movement of people and assets. As it becomes proven, there’s less of that,” says Mark Johnson, president of RFID Tribe.

Given a choice, team leaders would rather hire someone with real-world experience in RFID implementations over someone certified in a training program; and those with expertise in their specific vertical industry over someone in another field.

“People with subject-matter expertise do a better job of applying RFID than those who just have technical skills," asserts Johnson. "If you’ve worked in logistics, you know what happens: Push comes to shove on a shipping dock at three in the afternoon.”